Bed-bottom



W. J. BODA.

--BED BOTTOM.

(ModeL) Patented May 9,1882.

Invento r N. PETERS, PhcwLimagraphar, Waihingtom D. C.

' NITED STATES PATENT rrrc a WILLIAM J. BODA, ,OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES L. AMES AND ABEL H. FROST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BED-BOTTOM.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,543, dated May 9, 18-82. Application filed May 2, 1819. Renewed March 6, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHN Bonn, of Columbus, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to bed-bottoms or socalled woven-wire mattresses wherein an elastic woven-wire fabric is stretched from one end rail to the other to give yielding support to the bedding.

It consists in combining with one or both of the end rails, to which the elastic woven-wire netting is secured, a truss-rod and a central extensible strut arranged to bear upon both the rod and end rail, whereby the central portion of the rail or rails may be forced outward at will for the purpose of preventing or taking up the sag of the central part of the elastic fabric, which is liable to occur in this class of beds from use.

From the nature of the materials employed in well-made woven-wire mattresses such mattresses are calculated to last almost interminably. The rectangular frame is simple, strong, and durable, the joints or connections of the parts are easily made secure and permanent, and the fabric is in a high degree durably elastic, and of itself practically imperishable in use. Notwithstanding these merits this class of bed-bottoms after a time become unsatisfactory to the user from their tendency to sag in the middle, partly owing to inward bending of the end rails to which the stretched fabric is attached, and partly to a partial loss of resilience in the central coils of the fabric, which are exposed almost invariably to the greatest and most constant strain. The inward springing of the end rails has been in some instances obviated by suitable strengthening devices 5 but no meanshave heretofore been employed whereby the central portions or coils of the fabric could be given increased tension after that partial loss of resiliency which accompanies all elastic material kept under tension, without at the same time increasing the tension of .the outer coils. There has, in short,

been no means hitherto devised for restoring the equality of tension between the central and marginal coils of the fabric necessary to give a level and comfortable bed. To remedy this fault and to supply this want is the object of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure .1 is a perspective view of a bed-bottom or woven-wire mattress containing my improvements.- Fig.

2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the frame through one of the end rails.

A A are the side rails, and B B are the end rails, constituting the ordinary form of coiledwire-mattress frame in which the end rails may be movable or fixed upon the side rails.

F is the elastic wire fabric, consisting of interwoven coiled springwires running lengthwise of the frame, and permanently secured at their ends in the usual manner to the end rails, B, as shown.

To secure the special objects of my invention I employ a metal rod, 0, having its ends fixed to the inner side of the end rail, B, near its extremities, as indicated, and the extensible strut or post D, arranged between the central points of the rod 0 and rail B. The strut D is provided at one end with an eye or similar rest for the rod 0, and at its other is threaded to receive the nut d. The threaded end of the rod enters and is housed in a recess or hole, I), in the end rail, B, and the nut d is applied, as shown, to bear against the inner face of said end rail. A metal washer, d, is preferably interposed between the nut and rail. By running the nut 01 outward on the strut D the obvious effect is obtained of bending the wooden end rail,]3, outward in its central part, and of correspondingly elongating and increasing the tension of the central portion or coils of the fabric F. The special form of truss described, therefore, not only serves as a mere'stiffening device, like that described in a former patent to me, to prevent the end rails from being drawn inward at their 5 middle by the constant strain of the stretched fabric thereon, but it is also adapted to take up the sag, or to restore the more greatly reduced tension of the central coils of the fabric resulting from the greater strain to which said coils are subjected in the use of the bed. Since he principal sagging or relaxation of the central portion of the fabric occurs early in its use, the construction of truss shown will permit the end rails to be given at first a slight inward curve, if preferred, so that in subsequently equalizing the tension of the fabric they will be brought out straight, or practically so. A slight outward curvature of the end rails is, however, not objectionable, since, usually, the frame does not closely fill the bedstead to which it is applied.

The rails B, as shown, being of wood, and consequently of considerable width, the recess I), closely embracing the threaded end of the rod D, extended therein, will serve to hold the rod 0 horizontal, or, in other words, prevent the truss from tilting upward or downward when strain is applied thereto, as might otherwise result from slight downward or upward bending of the rail B. In view of the fact that the strain of the fabric upon the end rail is applied to the latter in another plane than that of the truss-rod and strut, this bearin g of the strut within the recess b is important.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. The combination, with the side rails, A,

the end rails, B, and the woven-wire fabric F,

consisting of longitudinal spring-wire coils secured permanently to the end rails, B, of the rod 0 an d extensible strut D, whereby the central portions or coils of the fabric F may be elongated or given increased tension without equally elongating or increasing the tension of the marginal coils, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the frame A B and contractile fabric F, secured at the upper surface of the end rails, the truss-rod (J, having its ends attached to the inner face of the end rail, B, below the plane of the fabric, and the strut D, provided with the nut or shoulder d, bearing against the end rail in the plane of the rod 0, and having its end extended and housed within a close-fitting recess, 2), in the end rail, substantially as shown, and for the purposes stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of April, 1879.

WILLIAM JOHN BODA.

Witnesses:

F. F. HOFFMAN, E. S. SPARKs. 

